PMQs RECAP: Boris Johnson grilled in fiery PMQs amid leadership crisis
Mr Johnson will face off with Sir Keir Starmer and other MPs for Prime Minister’s Questions and will also seek to boost his position with Tory MPs and the public by announcing an easing of England’s coronavirus restrictions.
So far, seven Tory MPs have publicly called for Mr Johnson to go, far short of the 54 required to submit letters of no-confidence to the backbench 1922 Committee – but privately, many more believe the Prime Minister’s time is up.
You can follow live updates in our blog.
PMQs LIVE: Boris Johnson to face MPs amid leadership crisis
Wendy Chamberlain hits out at PMQ over his handling of the Partygate scandal and asks if it is time for him to resign.
Boris Johnson says he does not agree and insists that MPs must wait for the inquiry report. He also says he’s now not expecting the Sue Gray report until “next week”.
Ms Chamberlain highlighted “excuses” made by the Prime Minister over Downing Street party allegations, adding: “There’s no excuse for taking the British people for fools.
“Would the Prime Minister agree it’s now time for him to resign?”
Mr Johnson replied: “No, Mr Speaker. But what I can tell her, as I said to the House last week, I apologise sincerely for any misjudgments that were made.”
He asked Ms Chamberlain to wait for the inquiry to report before she comes to any conclusions.
Details of Christian Wakeford letter to Boris Johnson are filtering out: “My decision is about much more than your leadership and the disgraceful way you have conducted yourself in recent weeks...I do believe in the power of politics to be a force for good. So does Keir Starmer.”
Sir Keir Starmer starts PMQs by warmly welcoming Christian Wakeford - he says like so many people up and down the country, he has concluded the PM does not provide the leadership required.
He hits out at Boris Johnson’s defence saying “‘Nobody warned me that it was against the rules!’”
“Since the PM wrote them all why on earth does he think this new defence will work for him?”
In what appears to be a call at 2019 ‘Red Wall’ MPs Sir Keir Starmer says “The Labour Party has changed and so has the Conservative Party...”
Sir Keir Starmer hits out: “If the Prime Minister thinks the only accusation he faces is that he once had a beer with a takeaway then Operation Save Big Dog is in deeper trouble than I thought.
“If the Prime Minister misleads Parliament, should they resign?”
Boris Johnson replied in the Commons: “(Sir Keir) is continuing to ask a series of questions which he knows will be fully addressed by the inquiry, he is wasting this House’s time, he is wasting the people’s time, and continues to be completely irrelevant.”
Sir Keir countered: “I know it’s not going well Prime Minister, but look on the bright side – at least his staff at Number 10 know how to pack a suitcase.”
Boris Johnson hits back following the defection of Christian Wakeford saying: “As for Bury South, let me say to the Rt Hon Gentleman, the Conservative party won Bury South for the first time in generations… we will win again in Bury South”
Loud cheers from the Tory benches...
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asked Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he first became aware that any of his staff had “concerns” about the gathering in the Downing Street garden on May 20, 2020.
Sir Keir said: “Not only did he write the rules, but some of his staff say they did warn him about attending the party on May 20, 2020.
“Now, I have heard the Prime Minister’s very carefully crafted response to that accusation. It almost sounds like a lawyer wrote it. So, I’ll be equally careful with my question. When did the Prime Minister first become aware that any of his staff had concerns about the May 20 party?”
Mr Johnson replied “it is for the inquiry to come forward with an explanation of what happened”, adding: “I am afraid he simply must wait.”